Trinity’s Allen competing for starting role with Jets

Published: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:41 p.m.

In his second year as a pro football player, former Trinity Catholic High School safety Antonio Allen appears to have the inside track for a starting role with the New York Jets.

Allen, a seventh-round pick out of South Carolina in 2012, is battling 2011 second-rounder Jaiquawn Jarrett for the position. Jets coach Rex Ryan implied Monday that Allen is leading.

“It’s good competition, because Jaiquawn Jarrett is behind him,” Ryan said, according to an ESPNNewYork.com report. “That’s going to be real fun to watch because both guys (are) physical players. I love Allen’s length and he’s been impressive at times. He’s not there yet, but some of the things he’s done, he made a couple real nice plays the other day.

“Both of them can blitz, both of them are aggressive in the run game and we’ll just let that play out.”

Allen appeared in seven games as a rookie in 2012, registering six total tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery. Neither of last year’s starting safeties, LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell, are with the Jets any longer.

DRAYTON FLORENCE: The former Vanguard High cornerback, an 11-year NFL veteran, also appears to have a good shot at a starting role as he enters his first season with the Carolina Panthers. Florence, a 2003 second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers, has made an early positive impression in camp, according to the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer.

“Veteran cornerback Drayton Florence has been getting his hands on a lot of balls this camp,” the newspaper reported Monday. “Sunday, he stepped underneath a Derek Anderson pass intended for Joe Adams and picked it off.”

The ESPN.com Panthers depth chart lists Florence as the starting corner on the left side ahead of fifth-year pro Captain Munnerlyn.

Florence, 32, has appeared in 143 career games with 460 combined tackles, 18 interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.

CORTEZ ALLEN: The North Marion High alumnus began camp with the Steelers this summer as a starting cornerback but missed practice Sunday and Monday with a sore right knee. The injury does not appear to be serious, according to a Monday report posted by Fox Sports “Steelers Depot” blogger Dave Bryan.

Allen, a third-year pro out of The Citadel, had 43 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2012.

KEYVIUS SAMPSON: The former Forest High baseball standout continued his recent trend of torrid pitching for the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Sampson spanned six four-hit, shutout innings last Thursday in a win over the Frisco Roughriders, upping his season record for the Missions to 8-4 with a 2.49 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 90 innings of work. He’s 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last 10 appearances. Sampson, a fourth-round pick in 2009, was scheduled to start for the Missions against Corpus Christi late Tuesday.

ERIC GRABE: The former Vanguard High and University of Tampa infielder went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs for the Single-A Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators in Monday’s win over Lexington. The White Sox prospect is batting .246 for the season with a home run, 16 RBIs, five stolen bases and a .319 on-base percentage. Grabe was a 24th-round pick in the 2012 draft.

JORDON AUSTIN: The former Forest High outfielder has gone 2-for-6 over the past two games — both wins by the Gulf Coast League Red Sox — to raise his season average to .200 in his brief career. Austin, who has seven stolen bases and five RBIs, is third in the Gulf Coast League with 18 walks and also ranks in the top 10 in on-base percentage at .429. He was a sixth-round pick by the Red Sox in last month’s draft before being placed into the rookie-level GCL. The Red Sox (19-13) have a three-game lead in the South Division.

<p>In his second year as a pro football player, former Trinity Catholic High School safety Antonio Allen appears to have the inside track for a starting role with the New York Jets.</p><p>Allen, a seventh-round pick out of South Carolina in 2012, is battling 2011 second-rounder Jaiquawn Jarrett for the position. Jets coach Rex Ryan implied Monday that Allen is leading.</p><p>“It's good competition, because Jaiquawn Jarrett is behind him,” Ryan said, according to an ESPNNewYork.com report. “That's going to be real fun to watch because both guys (are) physical players. I love Allen's length and he's been impressive at times. He's not there yet, but some of the things he's done, he made a couple real nice plays the other day.</p><p>“Both of them can blitz, both of them are aggressive in the run game and we'll just let that play out.”</p><p>Allen appeared in seven games as a rookie in 2012, registering six total tackles with a sack and a fumble recovery. Neither of last year's starting safeties, LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell, are with the Jets any longer.</p><p><b>DRAYTON FLORENCE:</b> The former Vanguard High cornerback, an 11-year NFL veteran, also appears to have a good shot at a starting role as he enters his first season with the Carolina Panthers. Florence, a 2003 second-round pick of the San Diego Chargers, has made an early positive impression in camp, according to the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer. </p><p>“Veteran cornerback Drayton Florence has been getting his hands on a lot of balls this camp,” the newspaper reported Monday. “Sunday, he stepped underneath a Derek Anderson pass intended for Joe Adams and picked it off.”</p><p>The ESPN.com Panthers depth chart lists Florence as the starting corner on the left side ahead of fifth-year pro Captain Munnerlyn. </p><p>Florence, 32, has appeared in 143 career games with 460 combined tackles, 18 interceptions, four fumble recoveries and two touchdowns.</p><p><b>CORTEZ ALLEN:</b> The North Marion High alumnus began camp with the Steelers this summer as a starting cornerback but missed practice Sunday and Monday with a sore right knee. The injury does not appear to be serious, according to a Monday report posted by Fox Sports “Steelers Depot” blogger Dave Bryan.</p><p>Allen, a third-year pro out of The Citadel, had 43 tackles, two interceptions and three forced fumbles in 2012.</p><p><b>KEYVIUS SAMPSON:</b> The former Forest High baseball standout continued his recent trend of torrid pitching for the San Antonio Missions, the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres. Sampson spanned six four-hit, shutout innings last Thursday in a win over the Frisco Roughriders, upping his season record for the Missions to 8-4 with a 2.49 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 90 innings of work. He's 6-0 with a 1.78 ERA in his last 10 appearances. Sampson, a fourth-round pick in 2009, was scheduled to start for the Missions against Corpus Christi late Tuesday.</p><p><b>ERIC GRABE:</b> The former Vanguard High and University of Tampa infielder went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs for the Single-A Kannapolis (N.C.) Intimidators in Monday's win over Lexington. The White Sox prospect is batting .246 for the season with a home run, 16 RBIs, five stolen bases and a .319 on-base percentage. Grabe was a 24th-round pick in the 2012 draft. </p><p><b>JORDON AUSTIN:</b> The former Forest High outfielder has gone 2-for-6 over the past two games — both wins by the Gulf Coast League Red Sox — to raise his season average to .200 in his brief career. Austin, who has seven stolen bases and five RBIs, is third in the Gulf Coast League with 18 walks and also ranks in the top 10 in on-base percentage at .429. He was a sixth-round pick by the Red Sox in last month's draft before being placed into the rookie-level GCL. The Red Sox (19-13) have a three-game lead in the South Division.</p><p>Andy Marks can be reached at andy.marks@ocala.com.</p>